My 2 year sabbatical in NYC: as a theater lover, photographer, explorer and people person.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

#5 - A Day To Reflect

Wednesday was World AIDS Day. New York, having the largest population of people suffering from the disease in the US, goes all out to spread the word, raise money and give comfort.
The morning started in a most frightening way...the Empire State Building was missing! LOOK!

The reason for this disaster was fog! Do you believe that? FOG I thought I had left that all behind on the West Coast, but no, there was a fog bank here, yesterday, that swallowed up an entire 102 story building. Of course, that bad weather continued through out the whole day; rain and 60 mile per hour winds. Great day to have out door events. I chose 2 things to do, so I could suffer the onslaught of Winter.

The first was a book reading and performance of a few songs by the totally wonderful Chely Wright.

She was promoting her new book and is an out spoken advocate for gay rights, having just come out to the entire world via that memoir. She is also a wonderful country singer, although I think her songs transcend that genre. She was funny, poignant and smart as hell (she remembered my name and knows me from Twitter). There were about 50 people at Borders, and she was very personable with everyone. People in the audience told of their stories relating to coming out, and it was just an intimate gathering of strangers. I know that sounds unlikely, but she made it work. I love going to book/CD signings. They are free, and they allow close access to people that are usually "behind the red rope".

So, after all that warmth and coziness, I got myself down to the other end of town to Washington Square Park. The AIDS rememberance light was to be turned on by Liza Minnelli. Accompanying her in that task was Kenneth Cole, Tyson Beckford, and the most special Stockard Channing.

Well that's the Trifecta in my book!
Liza tripped going UP the stairs and was very incoherent in her presentation. She was supposed to come back out for the lighting set up, but Kenneth Cole (who is very personable, btw) said she had to leave unexpectedly).

Stockard read a letter from a woman in Europe who has been forced into being a sex worker. There were no dry eyes in the crowd of about 100 people.
If it had been just 3 degrees colder, we would have all had frozen tears on our faces. It was COLD, but also very moving. There were UN honchos as well, but I was glamming on the pretty.

The lights on buildings and monuments throughout The City were turned off at 7:30, to make the world take notice of the people we have lost to AIDS. It was powerful. The event was concluded with a monster good chorus of Broadway singers doing a gospel like song about fallen angels. More tears.

I then proceeded to go back to my apartment and collapse from the cold and emotions.

Oh, and the ESB was back, all red at the top to commemorate the day, but I was too tired to even snap a pic. I fail. Don't judge!